Troy Lyft Accident Lawyer

Assisting Troy Travelers Injured in a Lyft-Related Crash

Since its 2012 launch in San Francisco, Lyft has expanded nationwide. Today, it handles nearly one-third of the rideshare market in the United States. Lyft serves over 20 million active customers each month, including many in Troy and other metro Detroit areas.

Lyft drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and other motorists can suffer serious injuries when Lyft accidents occur. If you’ve been injured in a Lyft crash in Troy, the experienced team at Sommers Schwartz, P.C., can help you protect your legal rights and pursue compensation.

Using Lyft for Rides in and Near Troy

Lyft is popular because it’s simple to use. Riders open the app on their smartphone or other device, check for available, nearby drivers, and request a ride. The app displays the driver’s information and estimated arrival time so riders know which car to look for and who should be behind the wheel. The app saves users’ credit card information and seamlessly handles payments.

Rideshare services like Lyft are popular in Troy. The city’s sprawling, busy layout makes ridesharing attractive for both residents and visitors. Drivers often have a good sense of how to navigate Troy and other areas around metro Detroit, which can confuse those unfamiliar with the area. Troy residents and workers like Lyft because they can turn over the often-stressful task of dealing with metro Detroit traffic to their driver.

Lyft can be a convenient and useful way to travel in Troy. However, using the service also comes with risks, such as being involved in a serious car accident.

Common Causes of Lyft Crashes in Troy

Like other roadway accidents, distracted driving, drowsy driving, and speeding are some of the most common causes of Lyft accidents in Troy. However, rideshare accident statistics reveal some significant differences from other types of crashes.

Distracted Driving

Drivers interact with the Lyft app on their device before, during, and after the rider’s experience. Once the passenger is in the car, the app provides a map and directions for the driver. Although this information can be useful, it can distract a driver’s attention from the road. In addition, about 20% of rideshare drivers admit to using their cell phone for non-rideshare purposes while driving a passenger. Distracted drivers increase the risk of a crash, which can cause injury to themselves, their passengers, or others on the road.

Drowsy Driving

Sleepiness behind the wheel is a common problem for Lyft drivers. Many drive for Lyft after working a full day at another job. Lyft’s pay-per-ride approach to drivers means that they make more money when working longer hours. However, Lyft does not actively regulate drivers’ total work hours as commercial truck and bus companies are required to do.

As a result, rideshare driver fatigue contributes to about 15% of all rideshare-involved crashes. Driving at night compounds the problem. Rideshare crash rates rise about 25% at night, even though overall traffic collision rates usually drop.

Speeding

Speeding can involve driving too fast for road conditions or exceeding posted speed limits. As every Michigan driver knows, driving too fast for road conditions is possible even if you’re below the posted speed limit, especially in ice and snow.

Lyft drivers get paid for each trip they complete, which motivates them to complete trips as fast as possible. This creates an incentive to speed, increasing the risk of a collision. Driving too fast for traffic conditions may explain why about 40% of all rideshare crashes are rear-end collisions.

Do Rideshare Vehicles Actually Cause More Accidents?

Lyft requires its drivers to meet certain minimum standards. To drive for Lyft in Michigan, a driver must be at least 21 years old, pass a criminal background check, and maintain a valid driver’s license.

However, once Lyft has checked that a driver meets these requirements, the company does not provide any further supervision, require or offer any additional training or subsequent evaluation. Lyft drivers in Troy come from the same population as all other metro Detroit drivers, which means they can have the same lack of experience or careless habits as any other driver on the road.

In fact, Lyft drivers may cause more accidents than other drivers. Studies of rideshare drivers reveal that about 65% are between 25 and 44. This age group has a higher risk of serious accidents than slightly older, more experienced drivers.

These and other factors may increase the danger of using rideshare companies like Lyft. In one study, researchers at the University of Chicago found that road deaths have risen about 3% yearly since the widespread availability of ridesharing services.

How do Lyft and Uber vehicles make the roads more dangerous? First, they increase the amount of traffic on the streets. Drivers typically stay on the road until they find a passenger, drive to the passenger, take the passenger to their destination, and then drive to their next passenger. If each passenger had taken a private vehicle, they would have driven to their destination and parked rather than continuing to drive around.

Second, riders are more likely to hail a Lyft when the weather is bad. People who would normally walk, ride a bicycle, or not go out at all instead choose Lyft when it rains or snows, precisely the weather that makes it harder to drive safely.

Third, pedestrians face higher risks from rideshare vehicles. Uber’s latest safety report indicates that 30% of the 107 recorded accident deaths were pedestrians. Rideshare drivers hit several of these pedestrians, but most were hit by another vehicle while getting in and out of a rideshare vehicle.

Why Lyft’s Insurance May Not Be Enough

Lyft provides some insurance for its drivers to cover damages and costs related to auto accidents. However, different coverage levels apply depending on the circumstances of the accident.

• A Lyft driver who has accepted a ride or has a passenger in the car is covered by Lyft’s combined $1.5 million in bodily injury and property damage coverage. This $1.5 million cap covers everyone in the vehicle when the accident occurs, including the driver.
• When a driver is logged into Lyft but has not yet accepted a ride request, the driver is covered by Lyft’s third-party liability insurance coverage. This coverage includes $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 per accident for property damage.
• When a Lyft driver is not logged into the Lyft app, they are only covered by their personal insurance policy. Lyft requires Troy drivers to carry only the minimum coverage required by Michigan law.

After a crash, medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses can add up fast. A serious injury can require millions of dollars in medical care, including treatment for lifelong disabilities and ongoing medical needs.

An injured passenger may find that Lyft, the driver’s personal insurance, and the insurers of anyone else involved in the crash make recovering compensation difficult. They may push responsibility onto one another and deny liability. An experienced attorney can help you cut through these issues and recover the compensation you need.

Compensation for Lyft-Related Injuries After a Troy Car Wreck

After a Troy Lyft-related crash, an injured person may seek compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses related to the accident. An experienced attorney can help you understand the full value of your damages and ensure you don’t settle for less than you deserve.

Compensation for medical bills can include both past and future expenses. Many serious injuries create ongoing medical needs and costs. Brain or spinal cord damage, amputated limbs, and other severe issues can require lifelong care. The total compensation you recover for medical bills should cover both current and future projected costs.

Similarly, if your injuries required you to miss work, you may seek compensation for lost wages. If your injuries prevent you from ever going to work again or change your ability to do your previous job, you can also seek compensation for future lost wages.

Compensation for pain and suffering, mental and emotional anguish, and similar losses is called “non-economic” damages. This compensation addresses personal, burdensome losses inflicted by a Lyft accident. A skilled attorney can help demonstrate the true value of these losses and recover what you deserve.

Speak to an Experienced Troy, Michigan Lyft Accident Lawyer Today

A Lyft collision can be disorienting and overwhelming. Life after the crash may never be the same as your life before. Medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses pile up, and you may wonder if your physical and emotional pain will ever subside.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Sommers Schwartz, P.C., is your ally in the fight for compensation. Our experienced Troy Lyft accident lawyers can help you determine who was at fault and hold the negligent parties accountable. We’ll investigate your case and fight for fair compensation for your injuries. To learn more, contact us today for a free, no-obligation, and confidential consultation.